No 70, May 2010 Contents The "Autumn Classics" 2010 The "Autumn Classics" 2010 1 by Keith Griffin NOW OPEN - Parramatta Valley 4 Cycleway In recent years, during the famous European "Spring Classics" cycling season, an Diary Date: Bike North AGM increasing number of Bike North riders has been taking part in a parallel antipodean 4 Sunday 15th August series of Bike North Autumn Classics. Our series is unofficial, much less Not quite there yet... 5 competitive and includes several events not organised by Bike North. New! City of Sydney Cycleways 6 In fact the Autumn Classics are so unofficial as to include different events for different people, but the main ones seem to be Loop the Lake, Tour de Hills, Tour Opportunity to Cycle Sulawesi 6 de Cowra, Blayney to Bathurst Cyclosportif, Bike North Century Challenge, and Calendar perhaps the Great Hunter Cycle Challenge. While only two of these are Bike North Other Editions events, they are the two which get the greatest numbers of Bike North members participating each year. Editor:Jennifer Gilmore Importantly, each of these events is designed to encourage cyclists of all levels Production:Keith Griffin (perhaps not novice riders) to participate, which may help explain the large numbers taking part. The views expressed in Chain Mail articles are This year, as always, I was dreading the most difficult of these events, the BNCC. I those of the authors only and do not necessarily represent either the common realised some months out from the event that I would need to decide either to views shared by a majority of Bike North prepare well, or opt for a nice relaxing day sitting in a chair reading a book and members, or Bike North policy as formulated handing out jelly beans to tired cyclists at a checkpoint. Given that Fran was very by the Bike North Executive Committee. keen to ride, and she was not really sure with whom she could team up, my choice was made for me. We were unable to get away to do Loop the Lake, and I heard the next day that many Bike North riders who had intended to ride did not due to significantly bad weather. We've never done Tour de Hills and again it fell on a day when we would not be able to ride. Therefore we began some training on our own: we started doing more rides, Thursday evening training was reborn and our weekend rides moved to harder and longer ones where possible. What I should explain at this point is that not only had we decided to enter the Blayney to Bathurst short course (B2B, 70kms) but Fran had decided to enter the NSW Hill climb championship with a climb up Mt Panorama (using a service road, very steep!) and we were also volunteers to assist with the electronic timing equipment at the B2B weekend. The weekend before would be Tour de Cowra, and thus provide excellent final training with 4 days of good rides, a day off and then a few easier rides on our own before moving to Bathurst on the Friday afternoon. Our lead up training to TdC worked well and we both felt pretty good. But best of all was the large number of people taking part in TdC and having a great time. Several did their longest ever day ride, some were recent Bike for Life graduates and were now out doing 80 kms rides in the country! Others were keen to find the best coffee shop in Canowindra, or sink a pint at the pub après ride. The excellent weather helped. A sea of Bike North riders in Cowra Next Page Choose an article No 70, May 2010 Everyone joined in the "Jersey Days" with great spirit. On day 2 we had world champions, Tour de France leaders, Kings of the mountains and Paris to Dakar by Bike veterans. Day 3 saw the largest number of Bike North jersey wearing riders ever assembled. A few of the many wonderful contributions to the Silly Jersey day included Cats in the Hat, a crash test dummy, a skeleton, and the now familiar Pinarello Princesses complete with tiaras. A good breakfast is essential before a ride The advice always proffered for these events is "get into a good peloton and stick with them". Previously I had tried this and over exerted myself too early, so this year I decided to ignore everyone else and ride at my own pace. To my delight I found that no-one was passing me, and I was passing many riders. Fran, a little further back, was having a similar experience. He's been losing weight lately With TdC over we took a day off, then did dome relatively easy rides for the next few days, not wanting to have tired legs for the B2B. Fran's hill climb was up early-ish on the Saturday, but not nearly as early as we were up and about setting up equipment at Mt Panorama for the hill climb and the criterium races. Fran did really well in the hill climb and now has a medal to prove it. Next day was another early start to drive to Blayney and set up the equipment at the starting line, watch the long course (110km) riders leave and then wait until our luxuriously late 10 am start. It had been raining until just after the long course riders departed. The weather almost immediately turned for the better and took our spirits and resolve with it. At 10 am we were riding relaxing in Canowindra toward Bathurst the long but very scenic way. During the ride we were both so grateful for the skills we I had not prepared myself mentally for this at all, partly have learned in Bike North. There we very few other riders because it was not very long, and partly because I was out on course who knew how to ride in a rolling pace line, concentrating on the work we had been doing with very few who know how to spin up hills and few who could equipment for the events. descend well. Bike North had an outstanding day with at least ten riders in the event, each achieving an excellent finishing time. Previous Page Next Page Page 2 Choose an article No 70, May 2010 Advocacy 101 A letter to Bike North from a new member I am writing to share my experience with Bike North advocacy meetings… Simply, I just turned up for one of the meetings just to see what they do and how they go about it. I found it was quite serious but friendly, everyone was engaged in one project or another – it was nice to see the support that everyone gave to each other. What I did not know at first was the commitment that others had given to some of the projects On the starting line of B2B that have been ongoing for several years – gaining little wins along the way. After a couple of meetings I eventually put I remained calm, but still dreaded the final pinnacle of my my hand up to assist with one of the festivals. Autumn Classics, the BNCC 165 km ride. Fran and I would ride with Doug Stewart, who we knew would be cruising The experience was good and I was able to share my while we struggled. Once again, sensible preparation experience promoting BN (from a new membersʼ combined with skills and experience gained in Bike North perspective) with people who dropped in at the stall. I gave came to the fore and we finished with our best ever average out some pamphlets, answered questions and asked others speed (Doug could have done it faster, but hey) for that in the stall for assistance if the questions became too distance. Best of all, we felt good at the end. I am usually a technical for me to answer. I was asked to assist for a few wreck for at least two days after the BNCC and this time I hours and ended up staying for the afternoon. At the end of recovered very quickly and was back out training on the the day, I came away feeling good that I had participated. I following Tuesday. have since assisted in several stalls and every now and then it is nice to hear someone on a ride say that they met me at a stall and took my advice to “come along to one of the BN rides”. I am currently assisting in a project to obtain bike parking at my local shops, visiting the site (with an experienced committee member) and identifying locations for the placing of bike racks and the drafting a submission. I have been part of the committee now for 6 or 7 months, I am enjoying the camaraderie in being part of an active team, working together to get things done for our area, not just for BN but also for my community and other riders passing through. All those little successes join together to eventually make big advances for cycling. It was also eye opening to see several of our local Councils asking for our assistance in matters relating to cycling which reinforces that BN is a respected group in our area, so I am pleased to be part of it. So come along to one of the meetings - bring your positive attitude - you will find people who are happy to have you join Fran takes the corner in Newbridge on B2B the team, a cup of tea, coffee and biscuits.